Copy ^ 



Spirit ^tiilosioptip 

in Mutonxsitsi Beltbereti to 
W^t Scientific Seance Circle 



^ 



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9^ 



Spirit Philosophy 

Of Robert G. IngersoU and 
Rev. Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Together With 
POST-MORTEM REVERIES of JACK CARPENTER 



COJMPILED FROM THE RECORD OF 

The Scientific Seance Circle 



PRICE 25 CENTS 



BOOK ONE 



Compiled and Published by 

RORERTC. KROLL 

If 
4146 Shaw Ave. St. Louis, Mo. 



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V^Sol 



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COPYRIGHTED 1919 BY 

ROBERT C. KROLL 

bT. LOUIS, MO. 



©CI.A5L26B0 

MAR 1/19(9 



n/v^ \ 



PREFACE 

As MANY PERSONS approach the subject 
of Spirit Communication with a feeling of 
prejudice, it is necessary to explain that 
this booklet is not an effort to do proselyting in 
the interest of any cult or "ism/' These Spirit 
Discourses are presented as evidence touching 
the survival of personal identity. Since the super- 
natural can never be proven by living witnesses, 
it follows that this booklet is not a study of Super- 
naturalism but an eft'ort to contribute something 
to the sum of human knowledge by means of 
phenomena produced in conformity to natural 
laws as yet little understood. 

If personal identity survives physical dissolu- 
tion, then immortality must be a fact in nature. 
It remains only for us to establish this fact to our 
own satisfaction. This being the case, the opin- 
ions, religions, and prejudices of men cannot 
take from any man his birthright to immortality 
— hence, these factors cannot be permitted to en- 
ter into a work of this kind. 
IF THE INDIVIDUAL MIND survives physi- 
cal death, only that mind can prove such sur- 
vival — and faith has long failed to satisfy the de- 
mand for this proof. Furthermore, if the great 
thinkers of the past still live, they must also con- 
tinue to think; and, if they can prove that they 
live they should be able, by the same means, to 



4 PREFACE 

transmit their present thoughts for the benefit of 
mankind. It is only a question of opening up an 
avenue through which they can manifest on the 
physical plane according to natural law. Lead- 
ing thinkers in all parts of the world have an- 
nounced that it is an accomplished fact — and 
these announcements have been made as the con- 
clusions arrived at after years of painstaking 
study and experience. 

To provide the conditions under which such 
natural manifestations are possible, is the one 
purpose to which the Scientific Seance Circle is 
devoted. This Circle is constituted of eight in- 
vestigators who have given years of study to the 
various aspects of psychic phenomena. This 
Scientific Seance Circle, for the past three years, 
has been holding regular sessions in my home un- 
der test conditions. The medium is Mr. Otto E. 
Laroge, a photographer by profession, and I act 
as amanuensis for the Circle. The regular or- 
ganization forms a psychic battery which pro- 
vides the forces necessary for spirit manifesta- 
tion in the seance room. The discourses are given 
by the audible voice of the Spirit Speakers 
(known as trumpet speaking, or direct voice) in 
the hearing of all those present and every word 
is written down at the time exactly as spoken. 
A PSYCHIC ORGANIZATION, of course, 
^~^ requires the co-operation of interested per- 
sons on the Spirit side to enable our unseen 
visitors to manifest in a seance. It is not mv 



PREFACE ^ 

present purpose to mention the immortals who 
have interested themselves in the work of the 
Scientific Seance Circle, Suffice it to say, they 
include Spirit Technologists who organize the 
unseen forces and make them available to Spirits 
desiring to manifest. Then, the evening's pro- 
gram is always arranged on the Spirit side (the 
members of the Circle never know in ad- 
vance who the Speakers will be) by one who is 
known as the Spirit Control. Our control is Jack 
Carpenter, who in Earth-I>ife was a comedian 
and traveled with the leading shows of a half- 
century ago. Our Record is replete with his wit ; 
but, as it is not intended to make this booklet a 
humorous one, I introduce Jack Carpenter to the 
reader by giving his "Post-j\Iortem Reveries." 
While no literary excellence is claimed for these 
verses, they serve the present purpose insofar as 
they show a diversity of thought and have the 
merit of being something different. 

At this writing the Record of the Scientific 
Seance Circle contains over two hundred dis- 
courses delivered by nearly one hundred and 
fifty Spirit Speakers. This booklet contains but 
two of these. They are selected because they 
come from men who worked in entirely dift'erent 
fields of thought. Besides, the acknowledged 
works of ROBERT G. INGERSOLL and the 
REV. CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON are 
extant and comparison of these can be made with 
their posthumous discourses. Besides a critical 



b PREFACE 

analysis of the mental quality shown, a compari- 
son of context, style, and other elements must 
prove the analogy which alone can convince the 
reader of the source of these thoughts and estab- 
lish the identity of the Spirit Speakers herein 
quoted. If this proof of identity can be estab- 
lished to the satisfaction of the reader — no mat- 
ter how much the context might jar his preju- 
dices — the question of personal survival of iden- 
tity after death becomes a settled fact and is 
thus removed from the uncertain realm of faith. 
•yHERE IS NOTHING MYSTERIOUS 
about these discoiu'ses. The work of the 
Scientific Seance Circle has been witnessed by 
more than two hundred persons from various 
walks of life whose names are of record and live 
today to verify the statements about the manner 
in which these discourses are received and re- 
corded. None of the members of the Scientific 
Seance Circle have any professional interest in 
this kind of work — they are all animated by the 
single purpose of gaining access to that great 
fountain of information which lies just beyond in 
realms unseen. It should be distinctly understood 
that the work of the Scientific Seance Circle does 
not constitute an apology or defense of impos- 
ture or charlatanism. All that is asked is fair 
consideration of the evidence presented and that 
it be weighed without fear or prejudice. 

Men who refuse to recognize a fact do not 
change that fact. If we accept as true the things 



PREFACE / 

that cannot be true, we expose ourselves to 
merited criticism. Evidence that might throw a 
gleam of light across the pathway of two eterni- 
ties must also light our own way as we pass down 
through the valley of time. 
•yHE SCIENTTFIC SEANCE CIRCLE is 
''• opening up an avenue through which the 
exalted immortals of all time are giving their 
present thoughts to the people of our own time 
here and now. It means more light for the world 
and intellectual freedom for man. The range of 
thought covered in our Record is almost infinite. 
Among the subjects treated, there is wholesome 
philosophy for persons in all walks of life; there 
are intimate discussions of national and inter- 
national cjuestions by noted public men ; there are 
pages of history not to be found in any of the 
world's great libraries; there are examples of 
languages that ceased to be used before our pres- 
ent civilization was born; there is light on sub- 
jects and problems that have long bafifled scien- 
tists and historians ; and, all of this great wealth 
of rare material will be made available to the 
public in other publications which are to follow 
this booklet. Of course, the reader will want to 
keep in touch with this work and receive the full 
benefit of future issues. 

ROBERT C. KROLL, 
4146 Shaw Avenue, 
Saint Louis, Mo. 



ROBERT G. INGERSOLL 



Continues Attacks on Superstition — Amused at 
Mental Caliber of Clergy — Found Himself 
in Spirit Facing Eternity — Told the Facts — 
History All but Blotted Out by the Church 
— Present Work One of Reconstruction — Will 
Restore World's Scientific History — A Lesson 
from the Flowers — Pays Tribute to Child- 
hood — Present Opinion on Life Beyond the 
Grave — Missed Only Chance to Get a Touch 
of Hell — Reason and Confidence a Slow 
Growing Plant — Not All of Life to Live Nor 
All of Death to Die — Death Does Not End 
AJl — Victorious Peace After Death — Incredu- 
lity of vScience and Bigotry of Ignorance — The 
Gods Have Quit Causing Famines — Impos- 
ture Has Always Worn a Crown — God Im- 
proves as Man A^dvances — The Greatest 
Baptism — Religion Supports Nobody— Dis- 
honest Practices Condoned — Tax the 
Churches. 



(A series of Spirit Discourses delivered to the Scientific 

Seance Circle at sessions held between August 2 1 , 

iqi6, and February 13, iqiq) 



ii/^>iOOD EVENING, kind friends, I am 
y^j Robert G. IngersolL My whole life was 
devoted to the single purpose of freeing 
the people from the superstitions which the 
church regarded as holy. Superstition is the 
father of lies and the mother of deceit, it lives in 
vain hope and dies in dispair." 

Then we asked Col. Ingersoll whether it gave 



ROBERT G. INGERSOLL ^ 

him any pleasure to speak to the Scientific Seance 
Circle about his life-work. He answered us, 
saying: 

"It gives me more pleasure than iVdam and Eve 
had in the Garden of Eden. 

''I am still amused at the small mental caliber 
of the clergy. They cling to that easy form of 
arithmetic which denies the simple tables every 
child learns at school. They insist that one and 
one and one make one. I could never figure it 
out myself, but anyone with a theological train- 
ing understands how perfectly simple it is to 
work additions to get that inspired result. By 
exposing this nonsense from the platform, the 
priests will eventually run out of their biblical 
inspiration and discover that 2 and 2 makes 4. 

"]\Iy friends, the church is wrong, and honor 
is purer than gold. Never sacrifice a fact for a 
belief. You will wreck superstition by telling peo- 
ple the truth, but stand up for what you know. 
Every time you expose a lie and tell the truth, peo- 
ple will say, 'He knows what he's talking about.' " 
(August 21, 1916). 



THE NEW BIRTH 
< < r VEN while yet in Earth-Life, I sometimes 
^^ thought what a wonderful universe this is. 
When I contemplated the depth of nature's mys- 
teries and tried to think of that infinite sea which 
you call endless space, I thought how unequal I 



10 ROBERT G. INGERSOLL 

was to the task and I wished I had never existed. 
When I passed through the change of physical 
death, I found myself in spirit facing eternity 
and I asked, 'must I Hke forever and ever, is this 
the new birth ?' ^ ^ ^ ^ y[y questions were 
soon answered and I resolved that I must live for 
the benefit of those on Earth. * * ^ * i lived 
by the standard I am giving you now. I told the 
facts, the truth, the whole truth and nothing but 
the truth. My observations on the Mistakes of 
Moses are still the truth. ^ * * * The world 
is full of skeptics, liars, and truth. As a matter 
of fact, there is really no difference between the 
things that were said by Paine, Voltaire, and my- 
self. The difference was only in the manner that 
each delivered the same message. (September 
25, 1916). 



THE WORLD'S SCIENTIFIC HISTORY 

^^VV/HERE are the ancient manuscripts that 
^^ told the history of the people when the 
race was young ? These priceless treasures have 
been destroyed by ignorant priests. History has 
been all but blotted out by the church. The world 
has nothing left but the history of ignorance 
clothed in superstition. Our work is one of re- 
construction. We are going to restore the truth 
by restoring the world's scientific history." 
(October 23, 1916). 



ROBERT G. INGERSOLL 11 

ON BEING DISCOURAGED 

<<XTEVER let discouragement stand in your 
way. It is good to feel that way some- 
times. 

"If this old world had never felt like that, it 
would not be round. It got discouraged about 
being flat and began to spread and roll. So the 
world is rolling on and on, and the more it rolls 
the happier it gets. And the ground in its bos- 
som smiles at the progress it makes, and nour- 
ishes the flower that lives and smiles and gives its 
fragrance, like a spendthrift, to the wunds that 
blow. Yet, there is intelligence in the blade of 
grass as in the fragrant flower. They salute the 
life-giving sunshine with a smile in the morning 
and recline in the shadows of the night, happy 
and confident that the sun will shine again to- 
morrow. They are not discouraged. Take this 
lesson from the flower and think how bright the 
sun will shine for you in the noonday of your 
success." (October 30, 1916). 

^ ;J< ^ 

THE GRANDEST THING IN THE WORLD 
<<I HAVE SEEN many beautiful characters 
mature into greatness from innocent child- 
hood. Great men come and great men go, but, I 
tell you, a child is the grandest thing the world 
ever produced. I loved children as I loved noth- 
ing else. They could never make enough noise 
for me. 



12 ROBERT G. INGERSOLL 

"Childhood in its simplicity is perfect inno- 
cence, and its happy days are filled with joy. The 
rippling laughter of rosy-cheeked children spreads 
sunshine that rivals the light of the sun, it quick- 
ens hearts that are crushed with grief and softens 
to tenderness calloused lips that droop with the 
burden of care." (November 13, 1916). 

Jjj >Ji ilc 

ON LIFE BEYOND THE GRAVE 
<< Y^U WANT TO KNOW my present opin- 
ion about life beyond the grave ? Now I 
know that immortality is a fact. I never said it 
was not true. I often admitted that I knew noth- 
ing about it, and I insisted that the clergy did not 
know any more. Had I known then what I know 
now, I would have made their hair stand up, 

"I often said that when I died I wanted to be 
cremated so I could get a touch of hell. I had no 
feeling then, however, and I missed my only 
chance. I will come back some other time and 
tell you more about cremation. Your preachers 
have one foot in hell all the time." (February 

19, 1917). 

jj« }{i jjj 

JUSTICE THE KEYNOTE OF THE 
UNIVERSE 

<<TUwSTICE is the keynote of the universe, all 

J else is out of tune. 

''Reason and confidence is a slow-growing 
plant which must be fertilized at the root. It 



ROBERT G. INGERSOLL 13 

must be given attention and thought in youth, as 
we grow, so it can blossom and bloom in maturity 
and revel in the sunlight of life's Summer morn'. 

''Well, it is a greater compliment to be trusted 
than it is to be loved. 

"Those who live their first lives well shall live 
again. It is not all of life to live nor all of death 
to die. Birth and death are just as true in science 
as anywhere else under the sun. Death is the 
new birth of immortality.'' (March 5, 1917). 
^ ^ ¥ 

HAS NO PERSONAL GOD 
<<T WILL SEE the evolution of the spirit now 
^ and know where it can go. I can make the 
positive statement that death does not end all ! I 
have been here in thought, expression, love, and 
sincerity, and I will always be with you. I have 
found many things that have been a revelation to 
me, but none of them call for apology on my part. 
I have no personal god." (October 1, 1917). 
* * ^ 

THE FRUITS OF A VICTORIOUS PEACE 
<<\/ERY FEW MEN win recognition that 
gives them a great name in their own 
time. They must bear the brunt of the battle 
while they live and enjoy the fruits of a victor- 
ious peace after they get over here. I need men- 
tion only a few names to prove my point : There 
is Thomas Paine, Voltaire, Herbert Spencer, the 
American Spurgeon, Henry Ward Beecher, 



14 ROBERT G. INGERSOLL 

Abraham Lincoln, and others. These men had 
to die to Hve in the grateful memory of man- 
kind." (November 12, 1917). 
* * * 

DEPLORES NARROW IDEAS OF 
LEARNED MEN 

<<T WAS DEEPLY INTERESTED in the 
wonderful message you just received from 
vSerando. I thought how much more wonderful 
his message would have been if he had had my 
intelligence when he passed out of the body. Now, 
I never did flatter myself, but I knew a few things 
the preachers either did not know or would not 
admit. They called me a bad man, but they were 
bad in their own hearts. When I think of this 
ancient spirit who left the world in a savage 
state and returns to speak of the prehistoric ages 
of the world's growth, I cannot help but contrast 
his former and present states of intellectual de- 
velopment. Yes, mind grows by degrees and con- 
tinues to expand as time goes on; but, after all, 
it's a slow progress. There is so much to learn. 
''To think, when that man spoke to you of 
things that took place on this globe more than 
fifty million years ago ! Among your scientific 
men, with all their boasted knowledge, you find 
those who laugh at their colleagues for speculat- 
ing on the things that were probable as short a 
time as one million years ago. If you submit 
such a message as Serando's for their consider- 
ation, they will ridicule the whole thing. Now, if 



ROBERT G. INGERSOLL 15 

that is the reception we get at the hands of the 
world's learned men when we present new pages 
in the world's unwritten history, what can you 
expect from the ignorant masses?" (November 
19, 1917). 

jjs >Jl ^ 

THE TRAFFIC IN SOULS 
i<T SEE THE PEOPLE are still offering up a 
line of worship or flattery in exchange for 
assistance — quite an easy bargain to drive with 
God! 

''Slowly, painfully, but surely, the gods are be- 
ing driven from the world. The gods have quit 
causing famine — it is now the coal trust, cold 
storage and other grafters. 

''Now and then God is blamed for causing the 
death of a child because it is idolized by its par- 
ents. But since the kaiser has God with him, 
fear, mumps, measles, and pneumonia are natural 
causes in the army. Still, many people are afraid 
to save their body for fear they might lose their 
soul. Since the Selective Draft Law has ex- 
empted from military service the gentlemen of 
the soul-saving profession, they are able to con- 
tinue their propaganda at a safe distance. 
Various religious organizations are sending 
Bibles to the men on the firing line oft'ering up 
rewards in another world for obedience in this. 
It is like buying a soul on credit. 

"In all ages the people have honored those who 
dishonored them. Thev have canonized the most 



16 ROBERT G. INGERSOLL 

gigantic liars and have buried the great thieves 
in marble and gold. Under the loftiest monu- 
ments sleeps the dust of murder. Imposture has 
always worn a crown ! 

"Even today people are saying prayers for the 
success of the church, and hiring others to say 
prayers for them. The church member agrees 
to surrender his intellect, the church agrees to 
save his soul upon condition that he hand over 
his brain to bind the bargain. 
< < D ELIGION has not civilized man, man has 

•■■ ^ civilized religion. God improves as man 
advances. The trouble is with these pious peo- 
ple, they shut up their reason when they open up 
their Bible. 

''There is only one sin — Selfishness. There is 
only one good — Happiness. All law should be to 
preserve happiness and destroy selfishness. 

''Now, happiness comes through the environ- 
ment of living well. They build churches out of 
concrete, brick, stone, glass, steel and iron and 
adorn them with gold, stain the windows with 
the blood of Christ — and allow the people to die 
in huts and hovels. I think it is time that the 
church do a little real estate work and see that 
their congregations have better homes and better 
modes of living. 

"What a grand dinner they could have on 
Thanksgiving Day if they would carve the tur- 
key of Plenty with the knife of Justice and the 
fork of Reason, pass around the tender meat of 



ROBERT G. INGERSOLL 17 

Freedom to all alike. Let them break the spoon 
of vSuperstition that they have been feeding the 
people with for centuries. Let them pass around 
the seasoned dressing of Right Thinking and 
Reading. 

''When they start with such ideas, the thinking 
people will extend their hands in an effort to up- 
lift and assist them instead of tear down. No in- 
stitution can stand in the way of human progress 
and survive." (February 25, 1918). 



ETHICS OF BUSINESS AND RELIGION 
<<O0AP BAPTISM is the greatest baptism I 

^ know. Don't pay hypocrites to do your 
thinking for you, it is a waste of time and money 
to hire priests to frighten children and dull their 
intellect. You need something grander, some- 
thing with brains behind it, to advance. Don't 
go backward. You can't advance without think- 
ing. 

"The time has come when Liberty, Justice, 
Honor and Love must come to every man. There 
is no use to seek after a Creator. Heaven and 
Flell wnll take care of their own upheavals. You 
can expect hell in this world and the next so long' 
as the evil of graft is allowed to sow the seed of 
crime. Honesty is the best policy. 
<<DFLIGTON supports nobody, the people 
support it — and have done so for cen- 
turies. Religion can improve only as men grow 



18 ROBERT G. INGERSOLL 

better. Your preachers have nothing to say 
about crooked poHtics, evil mayors and gov- 
ernors, and private money interests. 

''The doctor writes his prescription, and you 
take it to the druggist to be filled. If he hasn't 
the right ingredients, he substitutes — no matter 
if the patient dies! If it is found out, it is de- 
clared to be a mistake, and he goes a free man, 
anyhow. 

''The groceryman sells coffee out of the same 
sack at diff'erent prices to his daily customers, and 
cheating is done all the way down the line — and 
many of these cheats are members of some 
church, and the clergy know it, still they are 
afraid to expose them. In the face of these con- 
ditions, the clergy pretend to be following the 
teachings of Christ. Well, if Christ ever returned 
to the world and saw the graft practiced in his 
name, he would turn right back again. 

''The church escapes taxation, still the people 
are taxed for many things in which they have no 
interest. Now, I say, tax church property — even 
the holy water ! Your preachers can talk a great 
deal about prohibition, but they offer no amend- 
ment. Now, it is time for people to quit support- 
ing such institutions and think for themselves. 
Good night. (February 13, 1919). 

"ROBERT G. INGERSOLL." 



Rev. Charles Haddon Spurgeon 



A Discussion on the Subject of Prayer — ^ Ideas 
Have Changed — The Desire for Prayer Ana- 
lysed — Suggestive Influence of Related Ideas 
— When Prayer Becomes an Unconscious 
Habit— The Origin of Worship^ — -When Science 
Gave Way to Superstition — Man -Created 
Gods — Mental as Well as Physical Traits 
Transmitted to Chi Idren^ — I nculcatingNatural 
Instinct — How Prayer Is Beneficial — ^Fear the 
First Cousin of Superstition — Imm.orality the 
Result of Ignorance^ — ^The Dual Standard of 
Morality — Religion Offers Nothing but 
Theory — Different Kinds of Prayer — Highest 
Force Is Universal Mind — All Actual Pheno- 
mena Are Natural — Advantage of Audible 
Prayer — A Definition of Faith — Mental Force 
Must Be Directed with Confidence — ^Regener- 
ating Influence of Art — The Work of Proges- 
sion — That Which Lies Above and Beyond 
Constitutes Progress. 



(A Spirit Discourse delivered to the Scientific Seance 
Circle at a session held October i6, iqi6.) 



i i r^ OOD EVENING, friends, I am Charles 
V X Haddon Spurgeon. While you are dis- 
cussing the subject of prayer, let us go 
into it a little deeper. My ideas on this subject 
have changed with time, and I will begin by tell- 
ing you that they are different from what they 
used to be. 



20 REV. CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON 

"It is absolutely true that many people expe- 
rience such a strong natural desire for prayer 
that it amounts to a craving which seeks satis- 
faction with the same persistence as even the ap- 
petites. Many learned men have observed this 
desire to pray, and recognize the craving as a 
natural instinct in the normal human being. They 
take too much for granted and form conclusions 
before investigating all of the facts. Inevitably, 
the average student concludes that the instinct 
to pray, being so strong and natural, must of 
necessity be conclusive proof that the Creator has 
ordained this as a natural means of communica- 
tion between himself and mankind. But, this is 
a conclusion based upon superficial evidence and 
does not consider all of the factors which con- 
tribute to implant the desire for prayer. 

''When you feel like your inner self wants to 
pray, it is because some occurrence, some object 
or saying — being a related idea — acts as a sug- 
gestion which the mind unconsciously receives. 
Certain ideas run in families and, when awakened 
by such a suggestion as a related idea, the mind 
makes tmconscious response and expresses itself 
in conscious desire. So, also, the form of prayer 
at definite times, and on fixed occasions, fixes the 
idea of prayer as an idea related to such occa- 
sions. Such prayer becomes an unconscious 
habit and the suggestion comes to consciousness 
as an impulse whenever any related idea is sug- 
gested by time, place, or occasion. Thus you will 



REV. CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON 21 

see that prayer is really a consolation, a satisfac- 
tion, or even an ecstacy, to persons of religious 
training or anyone inheriting the idea of worship 
from ancestors who practiced religious forms. 
* * * 

<<nrHE IDEA OF WORSHIP had its origin 
^ back in forgotten generations. When 
primitive men experienced enough mental growth 
to appreciate external phenomena, which they ob- 
served everywhere in nature, they began to 
search for explanations of the unknown. This 
inquiry stimulated the fancy which, in turn, be- 
came so real that the beliefs of fancy satisfied 
their desire for knowledge. Science gave way to 
superstition and the imagination created gods to 
preside over every desire and every passion they 
knew. They endowed their gods with all the 
characteristics of men, and glorified them by 
magnifying these powers. Soon these man- 
created gods were so powerful that men learned 
to fear them, and superstition has ever since 
been afraid of its own shadow. Thus supersti- 
tion was enthroned and has since been born into 
successive generations until superstitious beliefs 
seemed to be generated spontaneously among 
men. To this extent it is, indeed, natural to pray. 
The child inherits this same desire to pray be- 
cause mental as well as physical traits are trans- 
mitted from parents to children. Then, it is 
natural for a child to imitate the forms practiced 
by its parents and others. All of these influences, 



22 REV. CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON 

multiplied through countless generations, fix the 
idea of prayer so strongly on the mind that the 
suggestion ultimately asserts itself with the per- 
sistence of instinct and becomes a ruling passion. 
<<\TOW, I AM TRYING to make you under- 
stand that man is able to inculcate what 
you call natural instinct into unborn generations, 
and that the instinct to pray is in this class, and 
does not prove its divine origin any more than 
does the instinct to follow any other line of 
thought peculiar to some particular family, tribe, 
or race of people. For instance, whole races are 
instructed in the observance of certain forms and 
usages which become a fixed idea with the people. 
The habit of observance becomes born into the 
people for it seems unnatural for them to omit 
these forms and usages. Then, after the origin 
of these forms can no longer be traced, whole 
races find themselves doing peculiar things in- 
stinctively. But, it is no argument that it is right 
and devine to do them simply because the desire 
is natural and seems instinctive. So much for 
the naturalness and divinity of prayer. 

''Yet, prayer does good if it is sincere and you 
are good. If you are bad, no matter how sincere 
you may be, your prayer cannot accomplish any- 
thing. Faith is believing without evidence. The 
persons who taught us to pray do not know, them- 
selves, if it does any good. They simply have 
faith that it will. Fear is the first cousin of super- 
stition. Instead of teaching our children fear, 



REV. CHARLES H ADDON SPURGEON 23 

we should teach them to know the right and the 
wrong from their first understanding. 

'To make prayer more effective, character 
must be improved by the increase of knowledge. 
The time is not far oft' when science will demon- 
strate the necessity of teaching the youth sub- 
jects which are now suppressed. I look for the 
time when public schools will teach the children 
w^hat parents are now afraid to teach. Most im- 
morality results from ignorance of nature's re- 
quirements and demands. A knowledge of na- 
ture's inexorable laws of sequence, and of cause 
and effect, will strengthen the character of our 
youth. A realization that none can commit crime 
on credit and charge it to another will improve 
the morals of all mankind and correct the errors 
now accepted in the dual standard of morality. 
Religion off'ers nothing but theory — facts are the 
foundation of knowledge. Knowledge is that 
higher realization of being which we all must 
seek. 

<<I AM TRYING TO IMPART to you a 
knowledge of prayer to the end that you may 
use it effectively. When I speak of prayer, I do 
not limit myself to the spoken prayer; you can 
just as well pray silently. But, in either case, it 
is a mistake to suppose that prayer is ever an- 
swered by the interposition of Providence, or 
that we can secure a special dispensation from a 
capricious god by the persuasive power of prayer. 
By the act of prayer we produce mental force 
which is directed to secure the object of our 



24 REV. CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON 

prayer. The power of mental force so directed 
is almost unlimited in its potentiality for good. 
'The power of prayer can be made beneficially 
effective by employing it in natural channels be- 
cause the highest force is Universal Mind. By 
directing our thoughts to the great center of Uni- 
versal Mind, we dispose ourselves to let that force 
work in and through us, and secure for ourselves 
the blessings of this Universal Mind by multi- 
plying its manifestations through us. All actual 
phenomena are natural, so is Life and all its real- 
ities. To experience more blessings in our own 
lives it is necessary to gain greater knowledge of 
nature's demands and comply with them. 
<<T MUST INSIST, though, that in places 
where many people gather for a common 
purpose, audible prayer has a great advantage 
over silent prayer. Remember, I said that faith 
is believing without evidence. Now, there are 
many people who cannot do this. Again, the very 
lack of faith is often the only barrier that stands 
between many people and the realization of many 
good things for which they pray. Mental force 
must be directed with confidence to be effective, 
hence the necessity of faith when evidence and 
knowledge are lacking. People of little faith will 
readily join in a public prayer when led by some 
strong mind who concentrates and directs their 
thoughts by spoken words. In this manner the 
audible prayer becomes a hypnotic suggestion 
which acts on the weaker minds thus led to be- 
lieve without evidence. Of course, you have suf- 



REV. CHARLES IIADDON SPURGEON 25 

ficieiit knowledge of the mental laws employed in 
this process to understand why a multitude being; 
led in prayer can accomplish more good by the 
mental force being created in unison when all 
minds are focused upon a common purpose by an 
intelligent leader. 

''In this way, prayer opens up a new avenue to 
people who fell by the wayside. But, I do not 
assert that prayer is the only means by which we 
can rescue the fallen. I know that music often 
touches hearts that are calloused to prayer. I 
have also observed the regenerating influence of 
art. 

"Anything that makes people better must be 
good. You could not be perfect if you would. 
One-half of your time would be spent in trying 
while the other half would be dissipated resisting 
the efforts of those urging you not to make the 
effort. All these difliculties are past when you 
pass out of Earth-Life. 

<<IJ[ERE WE ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE in 
^ ■ leaps and bounds. What we learn comes 
from Spirits far superior to ourselves. There is 
no guess about the accuracy of what they teach 
us. Yet, our teachers over here do not know 
everything. For instance, if I was interested in 
some character of history, and I ask some high 
Spirit here to tell me about him, he may tell me 
he never heard of the person about whom I in- 
quire. Again, I am interested in some event in 
history or some obscure incident related in the 



26 REV. CHARLES H ADDON SPURGEON 

Bible and T ask these High Spirits for confirma- 
tory information which I have sought. Even 
though I have long taken the truth of these nara- 
tives for granted, I am often told by these Spirits 
that they have no information on the subjects 
about which I inquire, and they sometimes tell 
me they will try to find out what I want to know. 
Our teachers do not speculate on the accuracy of 
the information they give us. They are positive 
about the things they do know and are non-com- 
mittal about the uncertain and the unknown. 
They are also candid to tell us that they do not 
know, when we ask them concerning subjects 
about which their information is incomplete. 
Nothing seems complete, even here, and I find 
that knowledge is limited with all. Nor are all 
of the High Spirits engaged in the occupation 
of teaching. The work of progression in the 
Spirit World is a great work, and the Spirits are 
engaged in many different lines of effort. 

"In conclusion, I leave you a word of advice 
concerning your mental growth and spiritual 
progress: Never stop growing, either mentally 
or spiritually; never be satisfied with the things 
that are old ; always reach out for the things that 
are new — that which lies above and beyond con- 
stitutes progress. The time can never come when 
there is nothing more ahead ! My advice to you, 
who are still in the flesh, is to keep your minds 
focused on progress. Your minds must be pro- 
gressive or there will be no progress on this 
side." 



POST-MORTEM REVERIES 
OF JACK CARPENTER 

Given through the trance mediumship of Mr. 
D. L. Gray 

Recorded by Robert C. KroU 



Note :^ack Carpenter, the trumpet control of the 
Scientific Seance Circle, gave us occasional verses of 
what seemed to be a connected poem. When asked to 
give us a complete recitation at one time, he said he 
could not hold the forces long enough for such an effort 
by means of trumpet speaking. Acting on the sugges- 
tion of the Spirit control, we appointed December 15, 
1 91 6, for a special sitting with another medium, Mr. D. 
L. Gray. This young man was highly susceptible to 
trance control but knew nothing of the purpose for which 
we had invited him to our home. 

On the evening stated, Mr. Gray came to the house 
alone and joined Mrs. KroU and myself in a conversa- 
tion as we sat around a table in a well-lighted room. In 
a little while, Mr. Gray went under control and recited 
the following poem, which I recorded verbatim. 

—Robert C. Kroll. 



"So that's the way of trying to be straight and on 
the level, 

You will lose your reputation if you try ; 
If you say a word of kindness for some poor devil, 

Then some boob will say, 'You lie !' 



28 POST-MORTEM REVERIES 

''And if yon try to sqnare yonrself with this boob 
And tell him that yon didn't mean just what he 
thought, 
He'll turn his nose up and won't listen, 

But he'll tell the folks around that you've been 
bought. 

"So it's best to play the wise owl 

And listen to their rot ; 
And, if they ask you what you heard. 

Just tell them you forgot. 

"li they insist on telling 

Their troubles all to you, 
Just roll your eyes, like an old owl, 

And when they're done, say 'Hool' 

''Don't believe anything you hear. 

And only half of what you see ; 
And, if they ask you questions, say, 

'You can't prove that by me.' 

"But eventually, and all in time. 

These questions will be asked ; 
That's why I'm telling you in rhyme 

My experience of the past. 

"Now, when the ladies get inquisitive, 
Want to know if they love their beau, 

The answer that I give them is — 
Now, wouldn't vou like to know? 



POST-MORTEM REVERIES 29 

"There are some things you ought to know, 

So ril tell you in advance 
Fm a Freethinker, like all of you, 

A Spiritual P>ee Lance. 

"Now, I've traveled east and I've traveled west, 

A thousand miles or more, 
But, I've never seen the caves of hell 

Nor heaven's pearly door. 

"Now, I've traveled north and I've traveled 
south. 
And also through the air. 
But, I never saw an angel's wings 
Or heaven's golden stair. 

"Now, when I say these things. 

Some folks are going to worry ; 
They'll burn some candles for their friends 

To light their way through purgatory. 

"Well, they burn candles in the church 

To ward the devil away ; 
And, if that's the case, it's a mighty good place 

For the candles all to stay. 

"Yes, I looked for old Saint Peter 

With his bunch of golden keys. 
But I got stung as bad as anyone 

That ever fooled with bees. 



30 POST-MORTEM REVERIES 

''Some say the future should not be told : 

If that is so, why do they tell 
About future mansions of gold 

And that fiery complexioned hell? 

''While there are some things that I've done 
wrong, 

I never paid the devil fees; 
Still, to hear good Billy Sunday talk, 

He could show you all of these — 
And, when he's through, he'll turn over to you 

Saint Peter's golden keys. 

"But Sunday, like the rest of them 

Is out collecting fees; 
When you figure it out, they're grafters, 

The whole darn cheese! 

"You take it all in all, 

I've seriously been thinkin' 
Why they let a guy live like Gypsy Smith, 

And kill a man like Lincoln. 

"I've seen Barnum, the old show man, 

Who used to fool the people, 
But he didn't fool 'em half as bad 

As the preachers fool them in the chapel. 

"When old Barnum fooled somebody. 
He knew that he was doing wrong ; 

But the preachers, who fool the multitudes, 
Are fooling themselves right along. 



POST-MORTEM REVERIES 31 

"Yet, they're supposed to know these things; 

And, you can hear the clergy sing: 
'O grave! where is thy victory? 

O death ! where is thy sting ?' 

"I'll tell you this of things beyond. 

Speaking of graves and death and stings, 

The grave has no more victory 

Than angels fly with feathered wings. 

"As to the sting of death, I'm glad that I've been 
stung ; 

If I now lived upon the earth. 
And said just what I thought, 

Perhaps I would be hung. 

"Some people say that mediums, like dogs, 

Are not fit for a public floor ; 
If they are any better themselves — 

Well, what are they growling for? 

"x\nd when they say man has a soul. 

They know not what they say ; 
Man has no soul, but is a soul 

That dwells in a house of clay. 

"How well do I remember when my body was 
laid away, 
And I couldn't help from laughing when I 
heard the Reverend say ; 



?i2 POST-MORTEM REVERIES 

'He has gone to meet his Maker' — then I saw 
my kinfolks sway — 
And upon me came the dawning of a brighter 
future day. 

''Then I turned to seek adventure, 

But my feet were frozen fast, 
And before me came a vision — 

Not of heaven, but my past ! 

"And, as 1 stood in waiting, 

The scenes were changed for me; 

And there serene — on that majestic screen — 
Was the World as it ought to be. 

"And I've ever since been trying 

To exact its Hkeness here ; 
And, by so doing, rid the World 

Of all its worry, doubt, and fear." 




ItK.'^'^y of congress 

022 175 824 9 



